Pediatrics Journal Says to Stop Calling Breastfeeding Natural
What do you think of when you think of the word breastfeeding? I think of a beautiful natural way of feeding a baby; according to the Journal of Pediatrics, this just isn’t so…
A recent article in the journal Pediatrics is calling on health professionals to stop saying that breastfeeding is natural, arguing that doing so gives the impression that natural parenting practices are healthier. The authors have actually come to a point to where they have started a public campaign to end the positive use of the word natural, claiming that it is associated with so-called ‘problematic’ practices as home birth, homeschooling, the rejection of GMO foods, and vaccination efforts.
“The idea of the ‘natural’ evokes a sense of purity, goodness, and harmlessness,” Martucci and Barnhill write. “Meanwhile, synthetic substances, products, and technologies mass-produced by industry (notably, vaccines) are seen as ‘unnatural’ and often arouse suspicion and distrust. Part of this value system is the perception that what’s natural is safer, healthier, and less risky.”
The authors even went as far to say, “We should think twice before referencing the ‘natural’ in breastfeeding promotion,’ they write, “even if it motivates women to breastfeed.”
To be clear, breastfeeding is indisputably natural. The very definition of the word natural is; existing in nature and not made or caused by people : coming from nature: not having any extra substances or chemicals added : not containing anything artificial: usual or expected
Well I do believe that breastfeeding meets all of the above qualifications and things like vaccines and genetically modified foods do not. To even suggest that we should campaign to defame all natural practices in an attempt to influence parents to accept vaccines or GMOs is unethical advice; propaganda at its best!
You can get to the article here!